The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-11-10
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught BIZ Q Study OF the Inter.
national sunday-school Lesson Appolntsd for
Nov. 20. st. Matt, IL :s0-30.

Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures ~
indicated above.l
/. SUBJECT OF FIRST PART: HUMAN 40
coUNTABILITY Ii IN PROPORTION TO QUE
PRIVILEGES.
The lesson this week divides itself into two
parts. Verses 1921 refer to Christ's upbraid-
ing OF the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and
Capernaum. Verses $3.50 relate to our Savior's
gracious call. We shall consider these seps-
rateiy.
Verses 20 "a. It Is principle that RESPONSE
bility must be proportionate TO advantages en-
joyed. Much is expected and demanded from
those who have great light. Several cities
were specially favored of Christ After his
baptism he began in thorough way his min
istry. He changed his residence from Nazareth
to Capernsum, making that his headquarters
during more than three years. Chorazin and
Bethsaids were neighboring cities, both in
sight Of Capernaum, aud hence both shared
in the special privileges enjoyed by Ca
pernaum. These cities failed to appreciate
Christs presence, ministry and wonderful
works. Hence he upbraided them. There were
displeasurc and grief mingled in his feelings.
(See st. Mark, $3.50 He chided, reproved, re-
preached them. They were impenitent and
unbelieviug, although they had heard his
beautiful instructions and had seen his amazing
deeds.
Capernaum had witnessed his mighty works.
We notice the following Is miracles wrought
in that city. About one-third of all Christs
great works were performed there. The num-
bers preceding in the list which follows give
the order of the miracles wrought in Caper-
naum.
2. Cure of nobleman's son. (st. John, 4: 4s-
5i)
3. Great draught of fishes. (st. Matt, 4: -
22)
4. Demonisc restored. (st. Mark, +: -2sl
5. Peters mother-in-law. (St. Matt, 8: IA
H.
Crowds healed. (st. Luke, 4:4o)
2. Cure of pslsey. (St. Matt, 9:2-6.)
Q. Withered hand. (St- Matt, 12: 9I4)
10. Centurion's servant. (St. Matt, 8: 5-10.)
IL. Demoniac restored. (st. Matt, IL: %
3d.
Is. Woman sick IS years. (st. Matt, o: 20
22)
lG. Jairus's daughter. (St. Matt, O.: 1929
IL. Two blind men. (St. Matt, g.: Z7-3I.)
q. Tribute money. (St. Matt, Il: 24-27.)
What wonderful deeds! And yet the people
would not believe. Capernaum was his own
city, (St. Matt, 8: ~ but the residents would
not own him.
We have no account of Christ having done
anything in Chorazin. According to jerome,
1t was about two miles north of Capernaum.
Christ made three circuits of Galilee and per-
WOfK3 IN places Lle
names Of which are not given. Chorazin may
have been, in one of these itinerant move
ments, the scene of great deeds. This absence
of statement in particular as to Christ's
mighty works in Chorazin illustrates st. John,
81 :25.
We have no particulars of any mighty deed
OF Christ in Bethsaida. There is a general
statement however. (See 81. Mark, 6 AS, So
55.) Bad as il was ii furnished three Apostles.
bn 4 It
and Philip belonged TO Bethsaida as natives,
but seem. during Christ's ministry, to have re-
sided at Cspernaum.
Tyre and Sidon were cities in Phenicia.
Christ was never in either of them. lie was
once in the coasts or on the border Of the region
of country in which Tyre and Sidon were stu
ated, and healed the daughter of the Syro-
Phenician woman. tSt. Matt, I5:2l2S.) The
land OF SOdOm included the whole plain now
occupied by the Dead Sea, embracing four
cities-SOdom, Gomorrah, Zeboim and Admah.
(Deu., %: 23) The entire plain was submerged
on account of the sins of the inhabitants in
1897 ID. c. Gen., Is: 16 80 and 10: I-29.) When
Christ speaks of the cities Of Tyre and Sidon
he doubtless refers to the ancient cities, which
when he spoke We're practically extinct, and
not to the modern places then and vet known
as Tyre ard Sidon. Joel, 3:4.) So Christ
meant TO say that those heathens who wor-
SHIPPED Bsal in olden times were not so set in
iniquity as were the people of his own time In
Cborazin and Bcthsaida-that those gross sin
ners OF the SOdom plain were not so given over
to wickedness as were the residents Of Caper-
naum when Jesus lived there.
Sad consequences result from ignoring God
and Christ. The ruin of the Sodom plain and
the decline Of Tyre and Sidon were due to sin.
The fate Of Capernaum, Chorazin and Beth
saida is explained by their ill-treatment Of the
Savior. Dr. Schaff saws:
1t 10 a remarkable fact that the very names and
ruins of these three cities on the Lake Of Genssa-
reth have utterly disappeared and their locality 10
q matter OF dispute among travellers. while even
that OF Sodom and Gomorrah is pointed out on the
shores of the Dead Sea-"
The ruin of Capsrnaum was in proportion to
its opportunities. Exalted to heaven" it was
lowered to "hell," brought down to greatest
humiliation. The Romans devastated that
whole region. But worse yet the people suf-
fered, and will even yet be obliged to account
at the Judgment Day for their rudeness cruelty
and insults TO Jesus. Christ knows the heart.
He could tell how he would have been treated
had he appeared in Sodom instead of at Caper-
he made his headquarters in either
of the ancient cities of Phenicia. We are as
sured the people who lived in Sodom, Tyre and
Sidon will DO treated more fyorably az the
Christ himself being the Judge
then, than the residents of his time in Caper-
naum, Chorazin and Bethsaida- We notice God
is not yet done with the Sodomites, Sidonians
and peoples living near the Sea Of Cables in
his day. There is to be Judgment Day.
Suggestions:
l. We should repent If We DO not We are
worse than even the people Of Capernaum, etc.
The evidences Of Christianity are cumulative
2 Improve all opportunities We are TO be
Judged according TO our faithfDlness in ayAiIinx
ourselves of the privileges at our disposal
g. Cities should be Christian. There ara
general blessings resulting from Christianity
which descend on communities al distinct FROM
individuals.
l. Comparisons, though as q rule iuv!dious
and indiscreet, are yet sometimes admissible.
ii. SUBJECT OF SECOND Past: CHRrsr's In
vrTATIoS TO CONE TO HIa FOB REST.
Verses % to 30 are full of comfort. Their
history would DO interesting as showing their
power to sustain in hours Of trial and sorrow.
Verses 20 TO "a were uttered by Christ in the
vicinity Of CspernauIn. Verses IS to 30 were
spoken in the Temple at Jerusalem in the
Court OF the Women &C tho Festival Of the
Sept. %, A. ID. o. The hearers
were Jews who were burdened by sin, the IN
reasonable demands of tradition, etc (Ps. %:
4; Gen., 4:13; st. Matt, 23:4; Acts, Is 10:
RO., 3: 20; Gal, Sill Jesus urges al these 70
seek him for relief
Jesus answered" Answered whom WhstY
No question goes before 10 which to reply. Bus
Christ knows what questions every one il poa-
deriEg. He can reply to an unexpressed in
terrogation. (St. Lu., 5:22; 7:39, 40) An act
may take the form Of q question and elicit
answer. (St. Lu., / So 90; % :6l) Some
think We are TO SUNNY " being askad Va ara